Dingle

I use my cutting table. It's very large and what I did was get a good size board and covered it. When I need to cut I just raise the board. Lower it to iron. You can put hinges on the back too. Clear as mud? :O)

susie-susie-susie

My ironing board was my DM's (it was a wedding present when she got married about 75 years ago) Then I made a large top to fit over it. When not in use I keep it in the closet. Doesn't require a lot of room, but is great to iron quilt tops and yardage. I agree, the older boards are very sturdy.
Sue

Jan in VA

Make one that you can use on any table surface:

1. A piece of thin plywood cut to your size (mine is 28" x 38" - wish it were another 6" longer) from Lowes. http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?...llow&cId=PDIO1

2. Covered with one or two layers (no more!) of cotton batting bought by the yard at Joannes or use a leftover piece.

3. Cover that with a layer of silvered ironing board cover bought at Joannes http://www.joann.com/ironing-board-c...lver/prd10219/

Whole thing very usuable, portable, big enough for yardage, store against the wall, all for probably less than $30.

Jan in VA

DebbE

I got an English ironing board years ago at a yard sale for almost nothing - it's built like a tank. I make my own covers, so no big deal, but I love all the extra space on top, as its larger than a regular ironing board. I expect it will last the rest of my life easily. I also have an oversized table top version that I leave set up and just set it on my counter cutting area when I need to press something. One of these days I'll be caught up enough on my ongoing quilt projects to tidy up the room and re-organize a bit so I can leave it up all the time....it's going to take me days to tidy it!

jrharry

Thanks for all the comments in regards to the ironing board. I think I might just keep the older one I have since every board I have looked at is not very sturdy. I have seen the board tops that people make which will be nice for large pieces of fabric.

amh

I have a 24" by 48" piece of plywood which I have covered with a few pieces of batting and some muslin, stapled to the underside. I set it on top of my ironing board or on top of a table when I am ironing yardage for quilting. I would not be without it. I use it for everything -- quilting, or pressing clothes.

BellaBoo

This is the best ironing board I have ever used. My guild has two of them with the fabric cradles. http://www.reliablecorporation.com/P...e-Tables/C81_2

Jan in VA

A FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR ironing board?!!!!! Are you kidding me?!! Good grief, my Oreck vacuum didn't even cost *that* much! Or my vintage Bernina 830, for that matter. NOT happening in my world Bella, but I hope you enjoy the heck out of yours!! (Kind of reminds me of the old song, "Nice work if you can get it,....", LOL!)

Jan in VA

sewNso

my ironing board for quilting is the smaller plastic fold up table. i believe it's 2 feet my 4 ft., about. i covered it with a piece of batting, then a piece i had used to practice free motioning on. so the sandwich was complete. just binded the edges, then pinned it to the 4 leg supports. easy to take off and wash that way.
i believe i paid $25 for it 5 yrs or so ago.

BellaBoo

LOL. I know many people get sticker shocked. If you think about it, selling one queen size quilt will pay for the board. I don't have one, my guild has two of them, one a pro model. They were donated to the guild from a retired clothes designer. I wouldn't have believed the difference if I hadn't used one. I press all my quilt tops on it at guild. I know two guild members that bought their own but they sew a lot of custom designed clothes and costumes.